Film reel



Oct. 4, 1938. J OLDHAM 2,132,043

FILM REEL Filed Aug. 51, 1935 Y 7:; INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 4, 1938 UNITED. STATES FILM REEL John M. Oldham, Detroit, Mich, assignor 1 to Leonard A. Young, Detroit, Mich.

Application August 31,

6 Claims.

The main objects of my invention are: First, to provide a film reel embodying a selfcontained locking feature for the side plates thereof, thereby avoiding screws and clamping devices.

Second, to provide a film reel of exceptional sturdiness.

Third, to provide a film reel in which the customary tube supporting the same on a rotating driving member is eliminated.

Fourth, to provide a film reel characterized by an increased ease of assembly and permanence of construction when assembled.

Objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

Preferred embodiments of my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is an elevation of an assembled film reel according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View taken on the line 22 of Fig. '1, parts being broken away. 1 Fig. '3 is a View taken on the section line 3-3 r of Fig. 2, a few convolutions of film being indicated thereon.

W Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a side plate or hub fiange embodied in my reel.

5 is a perspective view of the hub'element of my device.

Figs. 6 and '7 are detail views illustrating the method of assembling my improved reel, parts being cut away.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of an alternate construction.

tion, parts being cut away.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line I of Fig. 9, parts being cut away.

My invention supplies an improved film reel for 'use in a motion picture apparatus, which is characterized by decidedly greater strength than the devices now in use without, however, relying on a greatly increased number of parts or increased cost for the added strength.

A feature of my invention lies in the fact that the number of parts has been decreased, thereby cutting'the assembly time to a minimum, as well as materially decreasing the cost of the completed article. Ease of assembly is attained not only by the decreased number of parts, but also by the'nature of the elements of my improved device, which carries the locking elements therefor directly on the side plates thereof.

Referring to the drawing, the reference nu- Fig. 9 is a detail view illustrating amodifica- 1935, Serial No. 38,773

meral I indicates a centrally apertured side plate or spoke flange preferably of circular shape, of which there are two on my reel. The plates I are provided with circular raised portions 2 and radially extending raised portions 3 which form channels in the inner side of said'plates. In the channels are placed the spokes 4, there being a number of channels corresponding to the number of spokes. A central tubular hub portion 5 is provided with projecting lugs 6 ateach end 1%) which extend into keyways I on the plates I, and slots 8 are formed in the tubular portion, said slots being in alinement with corresponding slots g plate i. The driving shaft for my A reel is received in the hub 5 and is provided with 1 5 a suitable projection extending in slots 8 and 9 to form a driving connection with the hub 5 and plates I of the reel. Two small reinforcing plates I0 having an aperture and slots registering with the aperture and slots of plate I may be attached to the plates I byspot welding as indicated at I I. These plates I'Il materially strengthen the side places I and help carry the driving load. The plates Iii may, however, be omitted if desired. '2'5 Thereference numeral I2 indicates a winding drum having a slot or recess I3 therein, in which the film which is wound on the drum may be secured. The drum I2 is provided with L-shaped fingers or lugs I i, there being a suitable num- 30 ber of such fingers. In the device illustrated, three fingers have been used. Each finger carrie's a'n extending portion I5. The -side plates I have a number of slots I6 therein disposed near the periphery of the plates, said slots being J3'5 formed by a punching-"or similar operation, and a lip ll adjacent the slots and protruding outwardlyfiOm the plate I. In the assembly of the reel, fingers I4 are inserted-in slots I6, the extending-portion I5 of the fingers being placed 40 so as to "closely overhang the adjacent edge of plate I. Lip I I is then hammered down, as shown in Fig. l, to firmly lock the finger I4 in place. It will be apparent that'by this operation spokes 4 will be firmly secured between winding drum I2 and plates I. At the outer end of spokes 4, arim I8 is welded thereto. 7

By the 'above construction, all screws and clamping devices-are obviated and a device of simple yet strong construction is provided. Re- *50 inforcing plates I0 which are welded to plates I greatly strengthen the same to withstand shock and load.

In Fig. 8 I have illustrated an alternative form in which spokes 4 are in staggered relation on plate are provided with keyways 2| and the lugs of the driving member for the reel are received directly in said keyways. The device of this mod- 1 ification therefore dispenses with the central tubular hub member 5 and thus effects a decided saving in the cost of production of the reels as well as greatly facilitating the manufacture thereof. I am unaware that such a feature has ever been proposed before.

It will be apparent that the feature constituted by the elimination of tubular hub member 5 may be employed in. connection with locking.

structure for the side plates and winding drum, such as is illustrated in Figs. 1 to '7, inclusive. However, I have shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 a modified form of locking structure which comprises a resilient retaining member or dog 22 pivoted to plate I at 23. The retaining member is shaped as shown at 24 to retain finger I4 when in operative relation thereto. In this modification, an aperture I6 is formed in the plate I, but the protruding lip I'I, shown in Figs. 1, 4, 6, and 7, is omitted. A small projection or dent 25 is formed in plate I to hold retaining member 22 in operativeposition. Member 22 snaps over dent 25 into contact with finger I 4 once finger I4 is in its final position. The alternative feature comprising the pivoted resilient retaining member 22 is illustrated as being used in connection with the inturned flanges 20 and keyways ZI of Figs. Band 10. However, it will be apparent that it is capable of being employed in combination with any device to lock the side plates I to the driving member therefor.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in embodiments which I have found very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a film reel, a tubular hub adapted to receive a driving member for the reel, apair of plates secured to the ends of said hub, said plates having punched outv slots and struck out lips adjacent said slots, a winding drum disposed be tween said plates provided with fingers at the ends thereof, a portion of said fingers being spaced from the drum and extending in the direction of the drum periphery, said fingers being received in said slots and heldtherein by said lips, said plates being further provided with rounded channels extending radially thereof, and spokes confined in said channels between said drum and said plates.

2. In a film reel, a pair of plates, sai-d plates having slots and integral bendable retaining members adjacent said slots, and a windingdrum disposed between said plates, said drum having preformed rigid L-shaped fingers at the ends thereof disposed in said slots and held therein by said retaining members, a portion'of said fingers being spaced from the drum and extending longitudinally in the direction of the drum periphery with said retaining members engaging the rear of the fingers, said plates being further provided with rounded channels extending radially thereof between said slots, and spokes confined in said channels said plates.

between said drum and 3. In a film reel, the combination of a tubular hub adapted to receive a driving member for the reel, a pair of hub plates secured to the ends of said hub, said plates having radial ribs struck up therefrom providing inwardly facing spoke retherein between certain of the radial ribs with integral bendable lips at one end of each slot, a winding drum disposed between said hub plates and provided with a longitudinal film receiving slot and with hooked lugs having portions spaced from and extending substantially in the direction of the drum periphery, said lugs engaging in said slots in said hub plates with a bayonet locking engagement and being secured therein by said bendable lips, and spokes secured in said spoke channels between the ends: of said drum and said plates.

4. In a film reel, the combination of a pair of plates adapted to be drivingly connected with a driving member for the reel, said plates having radial ribs struck up therefrom providing inwardly facing spoke receiving channels, said plates 'having slots therein between certain of the radial ribs with integral bendable lips adjacent each slot, a winding drum disposed between said hub plates and provided with slotted lugs having portions spaced from and extending substantially in the direction of the drum periphery, said lugs having bayonet locking engagement in said slots in said hub plates and being secured therein by said lips, and spokes secured in said spoke channels between the 'ends of said drum and said plates.

5. In a film reel, the combination of a tubular hub, end plates secured to the ends of said hub and having spaced slots adjacent the periphery thereof, a winding drum disposedbetween said plates and provided with lugs slotted at their forward end and engaged in said slots to form a bayonet locking connection, said end plates being provided with bendable locking members for securing said lugs in said slots by engaging the rear of the lugs, and spokes having their ends disposed between said end plates and drum and secured to said plates.

6. In a film reel, a hub' adapted to receive a driving member for the reel, a pair of side plates secured to the ends of said hub, said plates having slots therein and integral struck out lips adjacent said slots, a winding drum for said reel, slotted fingers at the ends thereof, said fingers being receivedin said plate slots with a bayonet locking engagement and held therein by said lips, there being circumferentially spaced radially extending spoke receiving channels between said plates and drum, and spokes disposed in sai channels. I

JOHN M. OLDHAM.

ceiving channels and an annular rib at the inner 

